I like the idea of the logo but it looks kinds "flat" to me, like it's a logo from the '90's. Not in a bad way (like some of the absolutely garish original MLS logos) but it just doesn't "pop". The styling on the "DC" is pretty sweet, though.

That said, I'm just glad we can start talking about it directly. I hope we start getting some player names by the end of the month!

I predict the Spirit will be in the inaugural match, and it will be televised.

Probably the Spirit vs. the Sirens (or Rose City).
Get the East and West Coast fans both excited about the inaugural match.

Don't make the inaugural match East vs. East, or West vs. West.
Make it East vs. West.

Then you can make the Rose City (Portland) vs. Seattle game an anticipated matchup in week 3 or so. Same for Boston vs. Sky Blue. Maybe have the rivalry matches in the same week (one time during the season), and call it "Rivalry Week", in mid-season, to re-energize the fans for the 2nd half of the season.

I like the idea of the logo but it looks kinds "flat" to me, like it's a logo from the '90's. Not in a bad way (like some of the absolutely garish original MLS logos) but it just doesn't "pop". The styling on the "DC" is pretty sweet, though.

That said, I'm just glad we can start talking about it directly. I hope we start getting some player names by the end of the month!

(Also, glad to see they're keeping a W-League team active.)

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Agreed on all counts. Logo is a step back from the WPS Freedom logo (though still a step up from the WUSA one, which I always thought was surreal).

I would hope that they'd announce the NT allocations in the next couple of weeks, but we'll see.

I'm also quite happy that they're maintaining the Freedom tradition of supporting both a pro team and a high-level amateur team. I should still be able to see most of my favorite players from last year's DCU Women, even the ones who are still in school.

Joining the Spirit for their inaugural season are goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Ali Krieger and midfielder Lori Lindsey from the U.S. Soccer Federation; Robyn Gayle and Diana Matheson from the Canadian Soccer Association; and defender Alin Garciamendez and midfielder Guadalupe Worbis from the Federation of Mexican Football. All three U.S. players have ties to the area as former players with the Washington Freedom.

I sat down last night and scored the USWNT allocation based on players I wanted here in Washington (and players I didn’t want), with each player getting one (no, thanks), two (meh), three (cool), or four (awesome!) stars. The result for the Spirit – Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, and Lori Lindsey – is worth eleven stars out of a possible twelve, and the more I think about having Ashlyn Harris the more I’m thinking twelve out of twelve. My only disappointment is losing Becky Sauerbrunn, who’ll be sticking closer to her St. Louis home by playing for FC Kansas City. As for the rest, I was hoping to get Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod back, but obviously we don’t need both her and Harris.

Simple math tells you the Washington Spirit should have been allocated two players from the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s national team:

Washington Spirit — none

Spirit owner Bill Lynch has every right to be upset about the allocations, but said he isn’t.
“It’s a good, solid core,” he said, referring to his team’s overall allocations, which also included two Canadian and two Mexican national team players.

Any doubts that Ali would have been on the Olympic team if she did not get injured?

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She not only would have been on the team, she would have started.
And Kelley O'Hara wouldn't have played a single minute as a defender by now.
In fact, O'Hara would have been a midfielder on that team the entire time, but would have been allocated in the league as a "Forward", since not that many were allocated at that position by the U.S.

OK, well it wasnt an interview just the recap of one so let me recap the recap

1. Getting Krieger was considered a priority by the Spirit
2. They werent at all surprised Portland and WNY did so well in allocation and believe putting the stars in best venues is good for the league.
3. They r looking for attacking players in free agency and the Draft (big shocker there)
4. They dont know the draft order yet

That was a couple new things for me at least. Still not sure why they wont do the blind draw so teams know where they r picking.

She not only would have been on the team, she would have started.
And Kelley O'Hara wouldn't have played a single minute as a defender by now.
In fact, O'Hara would have been a midfielder on that team the entire time, but would have been allocated in the league as a "Forward", since not that many were allocated at that position by the U.S.

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O'Hara replaced Tarpley who got injured after being named to the WC, and was made defender after Ali hurt. Right places at right times. Its highly likely WPS_ would otherwise be listing O'Hara as a free agent.

O'Hara replaced Tarpley who got injured after being named to the WC, and was made defender after Ali hurt. Right places at right times. Its highly likely WPS_ would otherwise be listing O'Hara as a free agent.

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Even if Tarpley "and" Krieger didn't get hurt, I gotta think O'Hara was ahead of Winters for an allocation spot. After Tarpley got hurt, O'hara was brought on to the team, not Winters. Therefore, I think O'Hara was always ahead of Winters on the pecking order, hence O'Hara should have been allocated ahead of Winters, if it ever came down to those two. If Tarpley were still here now (and Krieger was one of the 23 allocated this time), then I think Winters would be the odd one out, not O'Hara. But we don't have proof of that.

Even if Tarpley "and" Krieger didn't get hurt, I gotta think O'Hara was ahead of Winters for an allocation spot. After Tarpley got hurt, O'hara was brought on to the team, not Winters. Therefore, I think O'Hara was always ahead of Winters on the pecking order, hence O'Hara should have been allocated ahead of Winters, if it ever came down to those two.

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I would imagine it came down more to position of need to fill out the depth roster for the WWC. There are pecking lists at each position. If Boxx had been injured, imo, it would have been Winters called in, not Ohara. I don't really expect a DM to be called in to replace a forward / midfielder. Similarly, I would have expected that neither one of them would be picked if the injured player had been a CB.

It will be either Miller or Nairn. I don't think they'll waste their top pick on a GK if Harris will be back relatively soon. Between the two I'm partial to Nairn but DC does need some forwards...

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Yeah, some people think we're going to take Franch, but the Flash need her more than we do. My guess is that Chicago takes Mewis, and we take Nairn. Hoping we can get at least two of our four locals: Nairn, Miller, Tiffany McCarty (who used to play for the Freedom's W-League team and scored their final goal in the 2007 championship match), and Holly King (who was superb for the DCU Women in 2012).

Ditto that....I'm sorry I asked.....could it be the next Alex Morgan? WoW!

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She's not the next Morgan "off the field". Miller doesn't exactly have the same sex appeal that Horse has. It just won't happen, but she's still young and attractive, and a great attacking goal scorer. But don't expect any P.R. to blow up over her looks. She's attractive, but won't be doing any body paint photo shoots. She doesn't have the lower 2/3 body, and the face that Morgan has. That's what Horse has over everyone else to be the Queen in that role, in terms of sexual marketability. Most men who don't watch soccer, or don't know anything about soccer, they still know who Alex Morgan is. They won't know who Caroline Miller is, even if Miller scores 30 goals in her rookie season, and blows up on the national team soon.